Well head



June zo, Y1939.

H. c. oTls WELL HEAD Filed June 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WELL HEAD YFiled June 18, 1956 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /9/55 Z9 I /5 v I f Z6 A Z9 '-1-v Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well heads.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved well head,Aparticularly adapted for drilling and well operations, and arranged topack off around a drill stem or tubing so as to permit the verticalpassage of couplings without the loss of pressure; as well as beingprovided with pressure operating means and manual ram operating andfastening means.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved well headincluding packing members yieldable to permit the passage of objectstherebetween without the loss of pressure, together with uid `pressureoperating means arranged to be active in closing the rams, but inactivein the opening of the rams, whereby the rams may be closed by fluidkpressure and opened either by the well 'pressure or by` tools passingbetween said rams.

Another object of the invention is to provide animproved well head whichis arranged to be operated either manually or by pressure fluid andincluding yieldable packings on the rams permitting the passagey ofobjects without the loss of pressure, whereby the rams may be quicklymoved into packing position by the pressure fluid, and held or xed inclosed position by the manually operated means, thus notl depending uponthe fluid pressure to maintain said rams `in their closed positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved well headwherein the rams are closed by fluid pressure,v which pressure isinactive in the opening of said rams, whereby well pressure or tool isutilized'to open the rams, and the fluid pressure may be reduced to actas a cushioning or shock Vabsorbing means during the opening operation,which makes for smooth retraction of the rams A construction designed tocarry out the invention will be' hereinafter described,y together withother features of the invention.

'I'he invention will 'be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which an example ofthe invention is shown, and

wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a well head constructed in accordancewith the invention,

Figure 2 isan enlarged, transverse, vertical,

y sectional view of a portion of the device and thev chamber.

showing the ram operating means in position for manual operation,

Figure 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 2, and

Figure 5 is an isometric view of one of the pack- 5 ing members.

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates an elongate metallic housinghaving a vertical bore II at 'its central portion. An upwardly extendingcollar I2 surrounds the upper end of the bore, whilea similar, dependingcollar I3 surrounds the lower end of the bore. The collars arepreferably made integral with the housing and are internallyscrew-threaded as shown. The lower collar I3 may be screwed onto thewell casing, or other support, whereby the housing is readily mounted inworking position.

The housing is formed with a pair of 'opposed packing chambers I4,rectangular in cross-section, and located in horizontal alignment witheach other.` The inner end of each chamber is open to the vertical AboreIl, while the outer end of said chamber is closed by a plate or cap I5,which is bolted, or otherwise secured to a periphf eral flange I 0provided at the outer end of the housing. Although each chamber is shownas rectangular in cross-section, it is obvious that its shape may vary.

An elastic packing member I 6 is slidable or reciprocable in eachchamber and this member is formed of rubber, rubber compound, or other Asuitable material. The packing member is molded, or otherwise secured toa follower I1, which follower is preferably constructed of suitablemetal. The elastic packing member has a 35 sliding fit within thehousing, while the follower is formed with an extended shank I8 whichslides within a guide ring I9 located centrally within The ring issupported by suitable webs I9'. With this arrangement it is obvious 40that the follower and packing member form a ram which may bereciprocated within the cham ber, whereby the face of the packingmember' may be moved into the vertical bore II of the housing. 45

The construction of the face of each packing member is a feature of theinvention and is clearly shown in Figure 5, this inner'face has ageneral semi-circular shape in cross-section, whereby when the member ismoved into the bore II, said face will snugly engage the outer surfaceof the drill stem, tubing, or other element B extending through saidbore. The members are so constructed that when both members engage theelement B, they provide an annular packing and holds said yokein place.

are disposed through the entire, vertical lengthA of the inner face 'ofthe member, and it is obvious that when both the packing members aremoved into engagement with the element B extending through the bore saidlips engage the surface of said element to pack oi therearound. It willbe obvious that the lips may be distorted either upwardly or downwardly.to permit passage of couplings, or other enlargements on the element Bwithout breaking the packing seal. The lips may alsobe deflected in anyradial direction due to such movement of the element, while stillmaintaining the seal. f

For manually operating the packing members I 6 to move them into and outof engagement with the element B, the shank |8 of each follower isprovided with a central, horizontally extending bore 25. This bore hasthe inner end of an elongate operating rod 26 threaded therein. Theouter end of the rod extends through an opening 21 in the plate I5 whichcloses the outer end of the chamber I 4. A pressure packing ring 28surrounds the rod, being `located within the plate, and serves toprevent escape of pressure around the rod from within the housing I4.The extreme outer end of the rod has a suitable operating handle 29fastened thereon, whereby the rod may be readily rotated.

The rod ls formed with an integral collar 3|)r which is located atsubstantially its mid-portion. This collar is adapted to engage theinner wall of the plate I5, as shown in Figure 3, and when.

said collar is engaging the plate the handle 29 is spaced some distance.from the plate. 3| is arranged to be placed over the outer end of therod between the handle 29 and plate I5.V

Av pin 32 passes through the yoke and handle It is obvious that whensaid yoke is in position, the rod 26 is immovable with relation to thehousing, although it may be rotated. Such rotation will cause thefollower and packing member molded thereto, which form a ram, to bereciprocated or slid within the housing, and thus, a manual control ofthe rams is had.

For operating the rams by fluid, or other pressure, a pressure fluidline 33 is connected into the outer end of one chamber I 4, wherebyfluid under pressure may be admitted behind each ram to move the sameinto engagement with the elementl B. The line 33 has a four Way T 34connected to its upper end and a fluid inlet pipe 35 leading from asource of supply is attached to one side of the T. A suitable controlvalve 36 is connected in the pipe. A pipe 33 leads from the T to theother chamber I4. A fluid outlet pipe 31 is also connected to the T andis provided with a control valve 38.

When it is desired tooperate the rams by fluid pressure, the yoke 3| isremoved from the rod 26, whereby the rod becomes movable with relationto the housing I0.

The outlet valve 38 is closed and the inlet valve 36 is opened whichdirects fluid under pressure into each chamber A 'yoke I4 through thepipes 33 and 33' behind the ram therein. The inner edge of each packingmember I6 is formed with lips |8' whereby pressure within the chambercannot by-pass the ram. As the fluid pressure is entered into eachchamber, the ram is moved against the well pressure into engagement withthe element B. The rod 26, being fastened in the follower, of course,moves with the ram,"sliding through the opening 2l in the plate I5.Leakage of pressure through this opening is prevented by the pressurering 28.

It is especially desirable to employ the fluid pressure for operatingthe rams when the head is used in operating a well under pressure, forit is vobvious that since the rams must be moved against the wellpressure, it would be difficult to reciprocate them manually. After thefaces of the packing members have engaged the element B, the packingseal is affected. Due to the blunt-nose lips 23 which are capable ofdistortion and deflection in anydirection, couplings, or otherenlargements on the element B may be passed therethrough without losingthe well pressure. Y

After the packingV members have engaged the element B, they may remainin their packing position for some time, and` it is not desirable tomaintain them in such position by the fluid pressure from the lines 33and 33. Therefore, it is possible to replace the yoke 3| on the rod andproperly adjust said rod to hold the members in engagement with theelement. 'I'he fluid pressure in the chamber may then be depleted andthe rams are locked in .their engaged position.

In retracting the rams, it is advantageous to do so without the manuallyoperable rod 26, and therefore, the yoke 3| is not used. Assuming thatpressure from the lines 33 and 33 is holding the rams in position, thevalve 36 is closed and the valve 38opened. 'I'his latter valve ls openedin accordance with the amount of the well pressure so that as thewellpressure forces the rams inwardly, the fluid pressurev is allowed toescape through the outlet pipe 31. In some instances, an enlargement,such as a conical coupling collar (not shown), on the element B willforce the rams inwardly to move them to an open position. In eithercase, by properly adjusting the valve 38, the pressure fluid acts as acushion or shock absorber, and smooth retraction of the rams is assured.

From the above, it will be seen that the rams may be actuated either'byfluid pressure, or by the manually rotatable rod. l The rod is utilizedto lock the rams in their engaged or packing position, and the changefrom manual to fluid operation may be accomplished quickly and easily.'Ihe provision of the blunt-nosed flexible lips 23 permits couplings onthe element B to readily pass through the packing members without anyloss of Well pressure. The projections 2|! and grooves 2| on thevertical engaging edges of 'packing vmembers angular in cross-sectioneach having a sliding ilt in said chambers and held yscrew-threadedengagement in the threads of the followers, projections on the rodsengaging fixed portions of the head memberfor limiting the outwardsliding movement of said rods, whereby rotation of said rods causes thepacking members to slide inwardly to embrace a drill stem, and uid.pressure means for sliding said packing members inwardly against wellpressure and into contact with a drill stem, said fluid pressure actingagainst the outer sides of said packing members to seal them in thechambers against the escape ofv well pressure.

2. A well head including,- a head member arranged to be attached to awell casing and provided with a vertical passage therethrough ample topermit the passage of a well drill, opposed chambers angular incross-section on each side of the passage of said head, a pair ofelastic packing members angular in cross-section each having a slidingfit in said chambers and held against rotation by their angular shape,said packing members having elastic faces arranged to engage and pack oia drill stem extending through the passage of said head member, butbeing amply yieldable to permit the passage of a drill collartherebetween with substantially no loss of well pressure thereacross,followers extending outwardly from the packing members and havinginternal screw threads, stationary guides for said followers in the headmember, operating rods slidable in the head and having screwthreadedengagement in the threads of the followers, projections on the rodsengaging ilxed portions of the head member for limiting the outwardsliding movement oi' said rods, whereby rotation of said rods causes thepacking members to slide inwardly to embrace a drill stem, fluidpressure means for sliding said packing members inwardly against wellpressure and into contact with a drill stem, said iiuid pressure actingagainst the outer sides of said packing members to seal them in thechambers against the g escape oi.' well pressure, and means manuallyoperated for locking'the rods and packing members against sliding.

3. A well head including, a head member arranged to be attached to awell easing and provided vwith a vertical passage therethrough ample topermit the passage of a well drill, opposed chambers on each side of thepassage of said head, a pair of elastic packing members held againstrotation and each having a sliding tit in one of the chambers and acontinuous elastic contact with the surrounding walls ofthe chamber,said packing members having elastic faces arranged to engage and pack oia drill stem extending through the passage of said head member, butbeing amply yieldable to permit the passage of a drill collartherebetween with substantially no loss of well pressure thereacross,iluid pressure means for supplying a iluid pressure to the rear sides ofsaid packing members to displace them into sealing contact with a drillstem and for expanding the rear edges of the elastic packing membersinto sealing contact with the walls of the chambers, manually operatedmeans for sliding the elastic packing members in the chambers, landmeans for positively holding the rods against sliding inwardly whenmanually operated.

4. A well head including, a head member arranged to be attached to awell casing and provided with a vertical passage therethrough ample topermit the passage of a well drill, opposed chambers' on each side ofthe passage oi.' said head, a pair of elastic packing members heldagainst rotation and each having a sliding fit in one of the chambersand a continuous elastic contact with the surrounding walls of thechamber, said packing members having elastic faces arranged to engageand pack oil.' a drill stem extending through the passage of said headmem' ber, but being amply yieldable to permit the passage of a drillcollar therebetween with substan- HERBERT C. OTIB.

